Chulalongkorn Hospital, The autopsy team of 6 bodies confirmed the cause of death to be cyanide. If there was enough to cause death, it is not possible to confirm who died first. As for other compounds, we are waiting for laboratory results to confirm the exact cause.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chanchai Sittiphan, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and Director of Chulalongkorn Hospital, Thai Red Cross Society, together with Assoc. Prof. Dr. Korakiat Wongpaisansin, Lecturer, Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University and Pol. Maj. Gen. Noppasilp Poolsawat, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau), Pol. Maj. Gen. Watee Aswutmangkura, Spokesperson of the Police Forensic Science Office, Pol. Maj. Gen. Witwat Chinkam, Commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 5 (Commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 5), jointly announced the results of the autopsy on the cause of death of 6 Vietnames
e people on the 5th floor of a hotel in the Ratchaprasong area of ??Bangkok.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chanchai said that initially, from the external and internal organ examinations, no other factors were found to cause death other than cyanide. We must wait for the results of in-depth examination of the internal organs to find additional substances. However, initially, if cyanide is received at the milligram level in the blood, if it exceeds 3 milligrams per cc, everyone will die. If cyanide is received at the amount of 1-2 milligrams per cc, the patient will have quite severe symptoms. However, if treated promptly, they may survive. We must wait for the official results from the laboratory to determine how much was received. For patients who have received cyanide poisoning, it depends on the amount and method of receiving it, such as inhalation or ingestion. If a high amount is ingested, symptoms will occur in a short period of time. The patient will experience shortness of breath, unconsciousness, and convulsions
due to acute lack of oxygen to the brain, which can cause death very quickly within minutes.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Korakiat said that the autopsy at the scene and the autopsy on all 6 cases, 3 women and 3 men, consisted of 4 Vietnamese and 2 Americans. The first part will be the identification of the individuals. The documentary evidence will be verified, which matches the condition of the bodies received. The names and nationalities of all 6 cases are known from the evidence collected. 2. The verification of the time of death was assessed from the examination of the scene at the hotel. Initially, the medical team that assessed the bodies of all cases had died 12-24 hours ago. The assessment was obtained from examining changes in the body, such as muscle stiffness after death, and the descent of blood cells in all cases, which appeared consistent with the same direction within 12-24 hours. 3. The cause of death: In all cases, the investigators sent the bodies for autopsy at the Autopsy Center. They collected phot
ographs of the deceased, collected blood samples, urine, and vitreous fluid to determine the cause of death, and performed a CT scan to find signs of assault or injury using computer-assisted X-rays. Initially, no signs of assault were found in any cases.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Korakiat said that the autopsy results of all 6 cases showed signs of asphyxiation, namely dark purple lips, different facial features, and the blood that fell to the ground had a special color, including the tips of the fingernails that were dark purple, which is a sign that death may have occurred due to asphyxiation. From the examination, another important characteristic was found, which was that the blood that fell to the ground was quite bright red, different from general cases after death. The autopsy team therefore made a preliminary assumption that these deaths may have involved some toxic substances, the most common being cyanide. In this regard, samples will be collected to test for other toxic substances as well.
Assoc. Prof. Dr
. Korakiat said that when performing the autopsy, no significant signs of internal organs were found. Visual examination revealed only a large amount of blood clotting in various organs in every case. As for the conclusion of the cause of death, it is assumed that the cyanide poisoning test results in the lack of oxygen at the cellular level of important organs, namely the nervous system and heart. It is believed that this is the cause of death in every case. A cyanide poisoning screening in the laboratory found a color change and was positive, so cyanide poisoning is suspected. However, we must wait for the blood test results to confirm again, which may take another 1-2 days. The results are expected this Friday. As for how much there is and whether there are other compounds that enhance the effect, we must wait for the blood test results to confirm again. It is expected that the overall results will be known in 1-2 weeks. All 6 cases had cyanide in the screening test.
However, it is not possible to disting
uish the time of death of each person, who died at what time, or who died first or last, because the stiffening of muscles after death and the falling of blood cells can only indicate a period of time. It is not possible to specify the exact time because there are many factors that interfere with the changes after death, such as temperature and environment. However, the changes in every case are in the same direction, which is 12-24 hours. The condition of the body does not indicate convulsions. It was found that every body had different food residues in the stomach, which in some cases the food was digested a lot, while in some cases it was not digested enough. However, it is still not possible to tell what kind of food it was. The doctor will record this information in the autopsy results in detail. As for the examination of cyanide on other surfaces of the body, it is difficult. It must be admitted that the doctor only examined the cyanide in the blood, so it is not possible to confirm that there was cyani
de in the external organs of any of these 6 people. After this, an external examination will be performed.
Pol. Col. Noppasin said about the source of the cyanide, the police have set up two assumptions: it was prepared to be imported before entering Thailand or it was purchased domestically through various channels. They have ordered an investigation from July 4, when the deceased began their journey into the country, until July 12. They admitted that while passing through immigration, they were unable to detect the substance, and they could not confirm who imported it. They must wait for the investigation to be clearly completed first.
For the post-autopsy process, the police will wait for the autopsy report from the doctor to be included in the case file. As for the family that contacted to receive the body, only the family of the couple came to give their statements at Lumpini Police Station today.-
Source: Thai News Agency
